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1/500 f/4.0 108.0 mm ISO 160

Panasonic DMC-FZ200

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Keywords

nature
annkelliott
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
foothills
W of Calgary
Pine Siskins
FZ200#3
31 July 2015
just SE of Bragg Creek
someone's garden/acreage
FZ200
Grosbeak
Alberta
male
bird
outdoor
summer
feeder
ornithology
juvenile
avian
Canada
close to the mountains


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Young male Red-breasted Grosbeak?

Young male Red-breasted Grosbeak?
Note: this photo is NOT my "main" (i.e. very last to be uploaded) photo out of the three I've posted this morning. I uploaded this and the next shot first and then uploaded the main image (Globe Thistle flower) separately, to see if that makes any difference. I did try doing it a couple of times this way weeks ago and seem to remember that there was something I didn't like with the result, but can't for the life of me remember what it was, ha. Hopefully, Flickr (or something else) won't change the order of the way you see my photos displayed! I did it this way yesterday, and it did work OK for a friend.

Two days ago, on 31 July 2015, I was out all day, having a great day with friend, Darlene, going west of the city. We first called in at someone's private property to see if there was any sign of the Red-bellied Woodpecker that had been reported. No luck, but we did see many beautiful Evening Grosbeaks and even more Pine Siskins, plus a Hairy Woodpecker and several other birds. Also, we saw a different kind of Grosbeak, the larger bird seen at the top of this photo - possibly either a female or a juvenile Rose-breasted Grosbeak, or female or juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak? This bird only flew to the feeder maybe 5 or so times, unlike all the Evening Grosbeaks and much smaller Pine Siskins that were feeding constantly. When it flew, we saw a flash of red under the wings. If anyone can help with the ID, it would be much appreciated by quite a lot of people here - thanks!

Later: thanks to Engilis Photos (Curator, U.C. Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, California) for the ID - Black-headed Grosbeak.

After this visit, we drove to an area where I had been told that a Great Gray can be seen sometimes (no luck), and then along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond, just in time to see an Osprey flying overhead with a large fish in its talons. So few birds to be seen or heard - maybe it was just too hot for them, and by then it was the afternoon, which tends not to be the best time to see birds. We got separated for quite a long time, through miscommunication, probably because when I yelled through the forest "Are you still coming?", it had sounded to Darlene like "I'm coming"! So, she waited for me to reach her and I had assumed that she was following behind me, some distance back. Apparently, both of us called a number of times after that, but we were out of hearing distance. Not a good feeling, each of us concerned about the well-being of the other and each wondering if we were going to have to call in a search party. At 31C, it was feeling mighty hot the whole time, too! When we finally found each other, we knew what we needed after our "ordeal" - an ice-cream, back in Bragg Creek, lol! A great day, Darlene - thanks so much for driving and for all the fun : )

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